Absolute Flash #5 (2025)

In the sewers, Wally freezes in terror at the sight of Project Heatwave, but as he looks into the monster's eyes he feels like he somehow knows him. The two of them reach out to each other, but when their hands get close yellow lightning leaps from Wally to Heatwave, causing them both pain. Enraged, Heatwave sends a wave of red-hot liquid rushing towards Wally, who manages to avoid it by running onto the ceiling. Grodd tells Wally he needs to help Heatwave, but Wally is frightened by how his powers are once again fluctuating around Heatwave and runs away instead. Heatwave climbs up out of the sewers, bursting out of a manhole just outside the Dibney Mission. Ralph yells at Linda and the other residents to run. Meanwhile at Fort Fox, the Rogues are on edge after being confined to base, to the point that Glider and Jesse almost come to blows. Thawne walks in and tells them that they have located Wally in Central City and to be ready to deploy within the hour. She also tells them that they believe Grodd has lead Wally to their former comrade Mick Rory, much to their shock as she told them Mick Rory had died as a result of Barry Allen's experiments. Captain Snart demands to know what else she has lied to them about, and she calmly replies that she will tell them what Project Olympus' true goals are once they capture Wally West. In Central City, Heatwave attacks the Dibney Mission, roaring the rage and pain. In the sewers, Wally is in the fetal position trying to block out the sound. He tells Grodd that he is scared and Grodd replies it is okay to be sacred but tells him that the people on the surface are scared too and they need him. Wally reluctantly resolves to stop Heatwave and puts on the costume. On the surface, Heat Wave advances on an injured resident and Ralph, who is trying to defend her. Wally runs in and pushes Heatwave away from them; Ralph recognises him in the costume immediately. Heatwave attacks again and the lightning once again shoots from Wally's hands at him. Wally asks Grodd how he can stop Heatwave but Grodd replies that he needs to "take heat". When Heatwave reaches for Wally again the lightning intensifies and Wally rises into the air screaming in pain. Wally experiences a vision of standing on an asteroid floating in space. He hears a voice calling his name from a distance and asks who is there. He sees a giant hand reaching out to him from the sky and yells at it to stop. He wakes up with Ralph Dibny crouched over him, revealing that the voice he heard was Ralph's; and sees that Mick Rory has returned to normal. Ralph and Linda ask Wally to let them help him, but Wally sees helicopter overhead and runs away. At Fort Fox, Thawne is briefing the Rogues and sees Wally is on the move. She tells them to deploy immediately and reminds them that Wally needs to be taken alive. Captain Snart asks about Mick Rory and Thawne replies that Colonel West will handle that, only to realise that Rudy isn't there. Deep inside the mountain, Rudy uses Barry Allen's badge to access a locked storage room. Inside he finds a strange craft, and as he is investigating it another door opens behind him. He turns and sees what appear to be the bodies of aliens in tanks.